2015 – ISSCR Press Releases and Statements

Two Papers Open a New Window into Pluripotency

The ISSCR is pleased to help spread the news about two papers published online today in Nature that describe the induction of pluripotency in cells from a newborn mouse without the use of extrinsic transcription factors, chemical manipulation or nuclear transfer. Haruko Obokata and colleagues have dubbed their method for reprogramming somatic cells to unrestricted potency through exposure to stress, including a short exposure to a lowered pH, “stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency” (STAP). These unexpected findings open a new window into the underpinnings of pluripotency and we look forward to seeing this observation repeated and extended into humans.